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Hi I'm Melissa

I'm an Marketing Manager, an Artist, a Singer, a Student, a work in progress. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

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I'm a Photographer, a Singer, an Artist, and a student of life. I love finding joy in the faces that I photograph. There is beauty in ever face, in every laugh, in every moment if you open your eyes and see it.
I'm single, in my 40's, and completely happy with my life. Yeah, there are times when I wish I wasn't single, but I'm a complete person and the only thing that defines me is my relationship to my Heavenly Father.

Why I am a Mormon

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I was raised Mormon. I had a wonderful childhood, parents that taught me right from wrong and supported me in my choices, teachers that were invested in teaching me the gospel, suffice it to say I was loved. Well, when I was 20, I turned my back on the gospel and my faith. I basically decided that the Mormon Church was not for me.
I lived for 10 years with that decision and wasn't about to look back. Several things happened in those 10 years that should have turned me to the gospel, but I was stubborn. In October of 2000 my Grandmother became ill. The family gathered by her bedside and came to the understanding that the matriarch of our family was not long for this life.
I'll never forget being in her hospital room with most of my family and extended family gathered. The most powerful feeling I had was that my Grandfather who had passed away in 1985 was with us. There came a time when we realized that she was holding on for her son to arrive and it was evident that she was in pain. My Uncle volunteered to have a family prayer and asked Heavenly Father to release her from this life. It was a beautiful prayer and it touched my soul. Not five minutes later my Gran's spirit left her body. It was the most poignant moment of my life. In that moment wrapped in the arms of my Aunt the whole purpose of my life, everything that my parents and my grandparents had taught me came flooding back to me. I understood for the first time in my life that I had a Savior who loved me and gave his life so that I could live again. I knew that my Grandma, who had missed my Grandpa so terribly for 15 years, was having a beautiful reunion with the love of her life.
The very next day I asked my neighbor when our ward met and started going to church. It hasn't been easy, in fact, it's been one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I am where I need to be. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important thing in my life.

How I live my faith

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Living my faith has been about learning my faith. For the past several years I have been a teacher in one capacity or another and it has brought me back to my roots. For me, teaching has been the best way to relearn the values and doctrine that define the LDS Faith and bring me closer to my Savior.

What is faith?

Melissa

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Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
~ Hebrews 11:1
I've come to realize that faith is trust. Trust that our Heavenly Father lives and loves us. Trust that Jesus Christ is our Savior and advocate. Trust that the Holy Ghost is real and present in our lives, that he is always there to guide us and comfort us. These are things that we can't see or touch, but that makes them no less valid. If we have faith and trust in our Father in Heaven, we can make great things happen.Show moreShow less

What is being a Mormon like?

Melissa

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I spent a good chunk of my life away from the Mormon lifestyle and culture. That was the easy part. Being a Mormon isn't easy. You can't just sit back and enjoy the ride. The ride takes work. But it's like the scripture says, Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. Every bit of the work that it takes to be a Mormon brings me joy. There is joy in prayer. There is joy in scripture study. There is joy in attending church. There is joy in missionary work. If you can find the joy in the work, it is all worth it.Show moreShow less

Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith?

Melissa

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We only worship God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. We respect Joseph Smith and believe he was and is a prophet of God. He was Gods instrument in restoring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth. If you look at the life of Joseph Smith, you will find someone worthy of your respect and reverence. Through him, God worked mighty miracles and restored light and knowledge to the earth. Through the prophet Joseph Smith we learn of the nature of God and Jesus Christ, and most importantly, we learn of their love for us.Show moreShow less